Convertible trunk and writing-desk.



Pa tented June 25, l90l.

L. E. BUCK INGHAM. CONVERTIBLE TBUNK AND WRITING DESK.

3 Sheets Sheet 1.

(Nu Hpdel.)

N0. 677,!!4. Patented June 25, I90l. L. E. BUGKINGHAM.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK AND WRITING DESK.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.

3 Sheats 8 heet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 677,Il4.

- Patentd June 25, I90l. L. E. BUCKINGHAM. CONVERTIBLE TRUNK AND WRITING DESK.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.) (No Model.) 3Sheets-Shaet 3.

A7709 EYS THE Noam: warns cu, PHOTO-UM. WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURA E. BUOKINGHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK AND WRITING-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 677,114, dated June 25, 1901.

Application filed October 29,1900. Serial No. 34,744. (No model.)

To all whmn it ntay concern.-

Beit known thatI, LAURA E. BUCKINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Convertible Trunk and Writing-Desk, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved convertible trunk and writing-desk, arranged to permit of conveniently converting a trunk into a writing-desk, or vice versa, so that the owner can use the structure as a trunk when traveling or as a writing-desk when at home.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improvement arranged as a trunk and with the cover in an open position. Fig. 2 is a like view of the improvement with parts arranged for forming a Writing-desk. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improvement arranged as a writing-desk. Fig. 4 is similar view of the same with the cover in position on the structure to enhance the appearance of the writing-desk. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the same.

The improved structure comprises a trunkbody A, on the back of which is hinged a cover B, and in the upper end of said trunkbody is removably arranged a tray 0, nor mally resting on cleats D, secured to the ends of the trunk-body, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The front of the trunk-body is formed with a movable section A, connected by hinges E to the adjacent fixed section, the joint between the hinged section and the fixed front sections being covered with strips A A of which the strip A also forms a stop for the free end of the hinged section A, to prevent the latter from swinging too far outward The section A is adapted to be swung inward at a right angle to the fixed front sections, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6, and on the free end of this hinged section is arranged an extension F, connected by hinges F with the section A, the free end of the extension F being adapted to rest againsta vertically-dis posed cleat G, secured to the inner face of the back of the body A.

On the front fixed section carrying the stop A is hinged a partition-H by hinges H, and the free end of this partition H is adapted to rest against a vertical cleat G, likewise fastened to the back of the body A, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 6. The section A, with its extension F, forms a transverse partition in the trunk-body, and this partition, in connection with the partition H, forms a central space A, open at the front, and side compartments A A for storing various articles at the time the structure is used as a writing-desk. When the structure is used as a trunk, the section A abuts with its free end against the stop A and the extension F is folded upon the inside of this section (see Fig. 1) and the partition H is folded against the inside of the extension F, as indicated in said Fig. 1.

The section A extends a short distance above the top of the body A, and the front of the cover B is cut out to fit into the pro jecting end of the said section A, it being understood that by this construction a large opening is obtained for the space A, and the cover B fits snugly upon the body when the trunk is closed.

The tray 0 is open at the front and is adapted to contain drawers I I, removable through the open front of the tray 0 when the tray is used as a writing-desk, the drawers being closed by suitable lids C 0 hinged to the tray at the time the latter is used as a tray in the trunk-body. "When the structure is converted into a writing-desk, the tray 0 is removed from the trunk-body and is placed in an upside-down position upon the top of the cover, the said cover being in a closed position on the trunk-body. The lids C 0 now rest on the top of the cover 0, and said lids are preferably corrugated, as indicated at C to fit the reinforcing longitudinal stays B on the cover 13. By this arrangement the tray 0 is held against transverse movement on the cover. When the tray is used to form a writing-table, then the drawers I I are inserted in a reverse position in the tray-that is, the bottoms of the drawers are adjacent to the lids 0 0 (see Fig. 5,) the bottoms of said drawers being in contact with the bottom of the tray, as indicated in Fig. 1that is, when the drawers are used as compartments for the tray 0. Y

In order to give the structure a very neat appearance when used as a writing-desk, I prefer to cover the body A and cover B with a covering J, of suitable flexible material such as canvas, leather, or the like-the covering being formed with a pocket J, fitting close to the walls of the space A verticallydisposed stiffening-plates J being on the corners of said pocket to hold the covering in proper position in the space A (See Fig. 5.) The covering J is preferably provided at the front with imitation drawers J and at the ends with panels J so as to give the structure the appearance of an ordinary writingdesk.

It is expressly understood that structure is used as a writing-desk the tray 0 in an upside-down position rests on the top of the cover D and the under side of the bottom of the tray 0 now forms a writing-table top, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 3 and t. The trunk is provided with the usual fastening devices for locking the cover B to the body A, and the body and cover are reinforced in the usual manner.

When the structure is arranged as a writing desk, ample room is provided in the space A for the legs of the user, so as to conduce to the comfort and convenience of the person writing on the desk. Furthermore, the structure when arranged as a writingdesk permits of using the trunk-body the same as an ordinary trunk without loss of packing capacity, especially as provision is made for packing or storing various articles in the compartments A A so that at least part of the body A is utilized for the purpose described, while the structure is used as a writing-desk. The drawers I I can be used for storing writing materials,letters,and other articles.

The covering can be readily slipped over 'the trunk-body and is held in place thereon by the tray resting on the top of the covering, the said top being, preferably, cut out at the middle to save the material. By having the covering of a flexible material it can be readily folded up into an exceedinglysmall bundle and stored away when the structure is to be used as a trunk. The under side of the tray-bottom is preferably covered with a suitable fabric, such as felt, so that when the structure is used as a Writing-desk the felt covering forms the Writing-table and adds greatly to the neatness of the structure, the appearance of which is enhanced by the covering.

Having thus fully described my invention,

when the I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A structure of the class described, comprising a trnnk-body formed with an opening at the front for the users feet, a writing-table having drawers and adapted and constructed to be set on the cover of the said body, and a covering of flexible material fitted over the said body and extending with its top under the said writing-table, as set forth.

2. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a space or opening at the front, and a flexible covering for said body formed with a reinforced pocket adapted to extend into the said space or opening, as set forth.

3. A structure of the class described, comprising a trunk-body having a hinged cover, the body havingits front formed with ahinged section arranged to be swung inward at a right angle to the front of the body, a partition hinged in the body at the front, and also arranged to be moved inward at right angles to the front of the body to form with the hinged section a central space open at the front, and a removable tray in said body and adapted to form a writing-desk with drawers when placed on the cover upside down, as set forth.

4:. A structure of the class described having a tray formed with an open front, hinged lids for covering the top of said tray, and drawers set in said tray to form compartments therein, the said tray being arranged to form a writing-desk when turned upside down, the said drawers when the tray is in position to form a writing-desk being ar-' ranged to slide on the said lids, as set forth.

5. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a front with a movable section, a hinged extension on the. free end of said section to form with the latter a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body, and adapted to form a second transverse partition spaced from the first-named partition, and a cover hinged to the back of the trunk-body, as set forth.

6. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a front with a movable section, a hinged extension on the free end of said section to form with the latter a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body,and adapted to form a second transverse partition spaced from the firstnamed partition, a cover hinged to the back of the trunk-body, and removable drawers in said tray and arranged to form compartments therein, as set forth.

7. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a front with a movable section, a hinged extension on the free end of said section to form with the latter a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body, and adapted to form a second transverse partition spaced from the first-named partition, a cover hinged to the back of the trunk-body, and a removable tray adapted to be set in the said trunk-body or placed in an inverted position on the top of said cover when the latter is in a closed position, said tray having an open front, lids hinged to the tray and drawers removable in said tray and adapted to form compartments therein, as set forth.

8. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a front with a movable section, a hinged extension on the free end of said section to form with the latter a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body, and adapted to form a second transverse partition spaced from the first-named partition, a cover hinged to the back of the trunk-body, and a covering for said body and formed with a pocket extending into the space between said partitions, as

set forth.

9. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having a front with a movable section, a hinged extension on the free end of said section to form with the latter a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body and adapted to form a second transverse partition spaced from the first-named partition, a cover hinged to the back of the trunk-body, and a covering for said body and formed with a pocket extending into the space between said partitions, the said pocket being formed at its inner corners with vertical stays, as set forth.

10. A structure of the class described, comprising a trunk-body, a cover for the same and having longitudinally-extending spaced reinforcing-strips, and a tray having corrugated lids adapted to rest on said cover and fitting said reinforcing-strips, as set forth.

11. A structure of the class described, comprising a trunk-body, a cover for the same and having longitudinally-extending spaced reinforcing-strips, and a tray having corrugated lids adapted to rest on said cover and fitting said reinforcing-strips, said tray having an open front and drawers in said tray, and slidable on the top of said lids, as set forth.

12. A structure of the class described, comprising a body having its front formed with a hinged section arranged to be swung inward at a right angle to the front of the body to form a transverse partition, a partition hinged to the front of the body and arranged to form a second transverse partition spaced from the first-named partition the said transverse partitions forming with the body a central space open at the front, and side compartments, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAURA E. BUOKINGHAM.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARsHALL. 

